World Ocean Summit 2015

Overview

World Ocean Summit 2015 was held at the The Oitavos, Cascais in Portugal on June 4th to 5th. More than 350 government ministers, business leaders, environmentalists and multilaterals from across the globe convened to discuss how to make the transition from a conventional ocean economy to a new ‘blue’ economy.

World Ocean Summit 2015 was held at the The Oitavos, Cascais in Portugal on June 4th to 5th. More than 350 government ministers, business leaders, environmentalists and multilaterals from across the globe convened to discuss how to make the transition from a conventional ocean economy to a new ‘blue’ economy. Pedro Passos Coelho, prime minister, Portugal was the closing keynote at the 2.5-day summit.

The previous World Ocean Summit considered what a sustainable ocean economy might look like, and what governance frameworks would be required to enable it. This, the third Summit, explored the opportunity for business, governments, and the international ocean community that blue growth presents, identifying practical and realistic solutions to the tension between economic development and environmental sustainability.

Why attend

Speakers

Aníbal Cavaco Silva

President, Portugal

Aníbal Cavaco Silva

President, Portugal

Aníbal Cavaco Silva was elected president of Portugal in 2006 and re-elected in 2011, standing as an independent candidate. The longest-serving Portuguese prime minister, from 1985 to 1995, Mr Cavaco Silva left a mark of firmness in the application of a vast number of structural reforms in his country.

He was an active player in the process that led to the acceleration of European construction in response to the new geopolitical reality in the 1990s. Mr Cavaco Silva played a central part in various key European decisions, including during the preparation of the European Union Maastricht Treaty. Currently he is the last on-duty European politician among the leaders who built the European Union as we know it today.
He headed the studies office in the Bank of Portugal, and later he held office as minister for finance and planning (1980–81) and chaired the National Planning Council (1981–84). He was president of the PSD (Social Democratic Party) from May 1985 to February 1995.

Mr Cavaco Silva graduated with a degree in finance from Lisbon University and completed a PhD at the University of York, in the United Kingdom, with a dissertation on macro economies of public debt. He was a full professor at Universidade Nova and Universidade Católica Portuguesa, both in Lisbon.

Pedro Passos Coelho

Prime minister, Portugal

Pedro Passos Coelho

Prime minister, Portugal

Pedro Passos Coelho took office as prime minister of Portugal's 19th constitutional government on June 21st 2011 following parliamentary elections on June 5th the same year. In 2010 he was elected leader of the Social Democratic Party. In 2008 he founded the Strategic Reflection Platform (Construir ideias) for analysis and discussion of the main topics on the national political agenda.

For the past decade Mr Passos Coelho has held senior management positions in several companies in the energy and environment fields, in conjunction with lecturing and serving as chairman of the Vila Real Municipal Assembly. He served as a councillor on Amadora City Council between 1997 and 2001, when he founded the Movimento Pensar Portugal (Think Portugal Movement). In 1991 he held the positions of deputy leader and spokesman for the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in the Assembly of the Republic, the Portuguese parliament.

He became involved in politics at an early age, and for five years was a member of the National Council of Social Democratic Youth. He holds a degree in economics from the Lusíada University, Lisbon.

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma

Chairperson, African Union Commission

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma

Chairperson, African Union Commission

Dr. Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma is a trailblazer in the empowerment of women across the African continent. Dr Dlamini Zuma became an active underground member of the African National Congress (a liberation movement in South Africa). She was also a member of the South African Students’ Organisation and was elected as its deputy president in 1976. After the 1994 elections, she was appointed as minister of health in the cabinet of then President Nelson Mandela.

During her tenure, she de-segregated the health system and championed the radical health reforms that introduced access to free basic health care. In 1999, then President Thabo Mbeki appointed Dr Dlamini Zuma as minister of foreign affairs. In this role, she actively championed South Africa’s foreign policy, which centred on the promotion of human rights, stability, peace, collective development and advancement of Africa.

In 2009, she was appointed minister of the Department of Home Affairs and brought about radical changes in the department, which subsequently achieved a clean audit for the first time in many years in 2011. In July 2012, the African heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, elected her chairperson of the African Union Commission. She is the first woman to lead the continental organisation, including its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity.

She started her studies in zoology and botany at the University of Zululand in 1971. She obtained her BSc degree and started her medical studies at the University of Natal. She completed her medical studies at the University of Bristol in the UK in 1978.

Catherine Novelli

Under-secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, Department of State, United States

Catherine Novelli

Under-secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, Department of State, United States

Catherine A Novelli was sworn in as under-secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment on February 18th 2014. In this capacity, she leads the State Department’s efforts to develop and implement economic growth, energy, agricultural, ocean, environmental, and science and technology policies to promote economic prosperity and address global challenges in a transparent, rules-based and sustainable system.

Prior to assuming her current duties, she was vice-president, worldwide government affairs, at Apple. In that role, Ms Novelli headed an international team responsible for Apple’s federal, international, and state and local government relations and public policy. Formerly assistant US trade representative for Europe and the Mediterranean, Ms Novelli co-ordinated US trade and investment policy for the over 65 countries of Western Europe, Central Europe, Russia, the NIS, the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Ms Novelli is a graduate of Tufts University, holds a law degree from the University of Michigan and a master of laws from the University of London (with concentrations in international and comparative law at the London School of Economics and School of Oriental and Asian Studies).

Zhang Zhanhai

As the director-general of the Department of Strategic Planning and Economic Development in the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Zhanhai Zhang oversees research on national oceanic development strategy, compilation of state oceanic development planning, monitoring and evaluation of national marine economic operations, and policy proposals for national marine economic restructuring and industrial distribution.

He was the director-general of the Department of International Co-operation in the SOA and the chief scientist of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic scientific expedition in 2003 and 2004, as well as the president of the Sub-commission for the Western Pacific of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO.

He graduated with a degree in mathematics from Peking University in 1984 and earned a PhD in oceanography from the University of Helsinki. He was named a Special Allowance Expert of the State Council and was involved in the first batch of the national New Century Talents Project.

Elisabeth Aspaker

Minister of fisheries, Norway

Elisabeth Aspaker

Minister of fisheries, Norway

Elisabeth Aspaker is minister of fisheries and concurrently minister for the co-ordination of Nordic affairs. She was elected to parliament in 2005 and serves as a representative for the Conservative Party. She has been a member of the Standing Committee on Justice (2005–09) and a member of the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs (2009–13).

Before becoming a member of parliament Ms Aspaker was state secretary, Ministry of Health and Care Services; political adviser, Ministry of Education and Research; and personal secretary, Ministry of Justice and the Police. Earlier in her career, she was a teacher.
She served as deputy chair of the Defence Policy Committee in 1999 and 2000 and as second vice-president of the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports from 1996 to 1999.

Assunção Cristas

Minister of agriculture and sea, Portugal

Assunção Cristas

Minister of agriculture and sea, Portugal

Assunção Cristas is minister of agriculture and sea of Portugal, and between 2011 and 2013 she was also minister of environment. She was adviser to the minister of justice and director of the Office for Legislative and Planning Department for the Ministry of Justice from 2002 to 2005. She has also worked as a legal consultant at a Lisbon law firm. She was an elected member of the parliament in 2009 by the circumscription of Leiria and re-elected in 2011, having served as a member of the Budget Committee, as well as the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee. Ms Cristas studied law and graduated from the University of Lisbon in 1997, where she was an assistant professor. She finished her PhD in 2005 at the New University of Lisbon, where she is a civil law professor.

Karmenu Vella

Commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, European Commission

Karmenu Vella

Commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, European Commission

In 1976 Karmenu Vella was elected to parliament. He continued to be elected in the nine consecutive elections that followed. In 1981 he was appointed as minister for public works, and in 1984 he was appointed as minister for industry. He served as minister for tourism in 1996–98, and was again appointed as minister for tourism in March 2013.

In 1973 he started his own private practice as an architect and civil engineer. In that year he was also appointed director of Mid-Med Bank, and in 1974 he became managing director of the Libyan Maltese Holding Company. In 2001 he was appointed executive chairman of Corinthia Hotels International. In 2009 and 2010 he served as executive chairman of the Mediterranean Construction. In 2010 he was also appointed chairman of Orange Travel Group; a foundation member of Vodafone Malta Foundation; and board director of Betfair Group.

He was also the founding chairman of the Maltese-Turkish Business Council.

He graduated with a degree in architecture and civil engineering from the University of Malta and later obtained his master of science in tourism management from Sheffield Hallam University.

Registration opens

Welcome cocktail reception

Welcome remarks

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

6:55 PM

Special remarks

Aníbal Cavaco Silva, president, Portugal

Aníbal Cavaco Silva

President, Portugal

Aníbal Cavaco Silva

President, Portugal

Aníbal Cavaco Silva was elected president of Portugal in 2006 and re-elected in 2011, standing as an independent candidate. The longest-serving Portuguese prime minister, from 1985 to 1995, Mr Cavaco Silva left a mark of firmness in the application of a vast number of structural reforms in his country.

He was an active player in the process that led to the acceleration of European construction in response to the new geopolitical reality in the 1990s. Mr Cavaco Silva played a central part in various key European decisions, including during the preparation of the European Union Maastricht Treaty. Currently he is the last on-duty European politician among the leaders who built the European Union as we know it today.
He headed the studies office in the Bank of Portugal, and later he held office as minister for finance and planning (1980–81) and chaired the National Planning Council (1981–84). He was president of the PSD (Social Democratic Party) from May 1985 to February 1995.

Mr Cavaco Silva graduated with a degree in finance from Lisbon University and completed a PhD at the University of York, in the United Kingdom, with a dissertation on macro economies of public debt. He was a full professor at Universidade Nova and Universidade Católica Portuguesa, both in Lisbon.

7:05 PM

Networking

8:00 PM

Close of cocktail reception

June 4th

Thursday

8:00 AM

Registration and refreshments

8:30 AM

Opening remarks

Daniel Franklin, executive editor, The Economist

Daniel Franklin

Executive editor, The Economist, editor, The World in 2019

Daniel Franklin

Executive editor, The Economist, editor, The World in 2019

Daniel Franklin has been executive editor of The Economist since 2006 and the newspaper’s diplomatic editor from mid-2018. Since 2003 he has been editor of The Economist’s annual publication, The World in...; which focuses on the year ahead.

His book on the future of technology, Megatech: Technology in 2050, was published in 2017, building on his previous book on long-term trends, Megachange: The World in 2050, published in 2012.

He joined The Economist in 1983 to write about Soviet and East European affairs. As the newspaper’s Europe editor from 1986 to 1992 he covered the great European upheavals, from the collapse of communism to the signing of the Maastricht treaty. After a stint as Britain editor he moved to the United States as Washington bureau chief, covering the first Clinton term. In 1997 he moved back to London as editorial director of the Economist Intelligence Unit. From 2006 to 2010 he was editor-in-chief of Economist.com, and was the newspaper’s business-affairs editor from 2010 to 2014.

9:00 AM

Keynote interview: Defining the “Decade of African Seas and Oceans”

The African Union Commission recently celebrated the start of its Decade of African Seas and Oceans. This new maritime strategy aims to “address Africa’s maritime challenges for sustainable development and competitiveness”. In this opening keynote interview, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, chairperson of the African Union Commission, gives an overview of the strategy and its potential to create blue opportunity for Africa’s coastal nations.Speaker
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, chairperson, African Union CommissionModerator
Daniel Franklin, executive editor, The Economist

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma

Chairperson, African Union Commission

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma

Chairperson, African Union Commission

Dr. Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini Zuma is a trailblazer in the empowerment of women across the African continent. Dr Dlamini Zuma became an active underground member of the African National Congress (a liberation movement in South Africa). She was also a member of the South African Students’ Organisation and was elected as its deputy president in 1976. After the 1994 elections, she was appointed as minister of health in the cabinet of then President Nelson Mandela.

During her tenure, she de-segregated the health system and championed the radical health reforms that introduced access to free basic health care. In 1999, then President Thabo Mbeki appointed Dr Dlamini Zuma as minister of foreign affairs. In this role, she actively championed South Africa’s foreign policy, which centred on the promotion of human rights, stability, peace, collective development and advancement of Africa.

In 2009, she was appointed minister of the Department of Home Affairs and brought about radical changes in the department, which subsequently achieved a clean audit for the first time in many years in 2011. In July 2012, the African heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, elected her chairperson of the African Union Commission. She is the first woman to lead the continental organisation, including its predecessor, the Organisation of African Unity.

She started her studies in zoology and botany at the University of Zululand in 1971. She obtained her BSc degree and started her medical studies at the University of Natal. She completed her medical studies at the University of Bristol in the UK in 1978.

9:30 AM

Lightning round: The science of the blue economy

In this session, a leading scientist reflects on the concept of the “blue economy”, assessing the ocean’s health and giving an outlook for its future.Presenter
Alex Rogers, professor of conservation biology, University of Oxford

Alex Rogers

Professor of conservation biology, University of Oxford

Alex Rogers

Professor of conservation biology, University of Oxford

Alex Rogers is professor of conservation biology at the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. His work is focused on understanding how communities of marine organisms are structured, which human activities impact them and how resilient they are to these impacts. This work primarily takes place in the deep ocean and on coral reefs. Prof Rogers has also engaged with marine policy and governance in trying to reduce human impacts on the ocean working with various governmental and non-governmental organisations, such as the Global Ocean Commission. He is currently leading a report for the European Marine Board on the science requirements for blue growth in the deep sea. Prof Rogers is a fellow of Somerville College in Oxford and scientific director of the International Programme on the State of the Ocean.

9:40 AM

Presentation: The state of the blue economy

There is a growing interest in the ideas of a blue economy and sustainable growth in the ocean. But these are not yet widely or deeply understood, and there is variation in how narrowly or expansively they are interpreted. Notably, the core concepts of “blue economy” and “blue growth” lack definition. It is also unclear, given how much our oceans have already been damaged, what a sustainable ocean economy would look like and what conditions might allow it to develop and be sustained. How these issues are resolved will affect everything we do in the ocean: from new and innovative activity built around sustainable business models to existing ocean industries’ efforts to transition to sustainable practices.
This scene-setting presentation will feature new original research from The Economist Intelligence Unit, outlining the current state of the blue economy and the policy initiatives fostering its development.Presenter
Charles Goddard, editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit; editorial director, World Ocean Summit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

9:55 AM

On the sofa: New ocean industries, new ocean opportunities

We are now more aware than ever of the effects of unsustainable human activity on ocean ecosystems and habitats, and the problems and challenges these can present for industry. Yet we are struggling to appreciate the opportunity to create viable blue businesses that marry value creation with conservation.The good news is that these opportunities are real, and there is a growing body of ideas and case studies that show how blue business can be done successfully.What are the key features of new and emerging “blue economy” sectors? How can emerging industries be environmentally sustainable? Where do the greatest opportunities exist?This session will assess two industries that offer significant potential and challenges: aquaculture and deep-sea mining.Panellists
Shontel Norgate, chief financial officer, Nautilus Minerals
Knut Nesse, chief executive officer, NutrecoModerator
Charles Goddard, editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit; editorial director, World Ocean Summit

Shontel Norgate

chief financial officer, Nautilus Minerals

Shontel Norgate

chief financial officer, Nautilus Minerals

Shontel Norgate has been the chief financial officer at Nautilus Minerals since 2006. Prior to this, she was the financial controller of Macarthur Coal for two years. Before joining Macarthur, Ms Norgate was the financial controller of a listed exploration company for seven years and commenced her career as an auditor with a predecessor firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers in Australia.

Ms Norgate is a qualified chartered accountant and a member of the Chartered Secretaries of Australia. She has 20 years commercial experience in the resources industry, including debt and equity finance, financial reporting, project management, corporate governance, commercial negotiations and business analysis.

Knut Nesse

Chief executive officer, Nutreco

Knut Nesse

Chief executive officer, Nutreco

Knut Nesse is chief executive officer of Nutreco, a global leader in animal nutrition and fish feed. Its advanced feed solutions are at the origin of food for millions of consumers worldwide. The Dutch-headquartered company is the largest salmon feed producer in the world and the third largest shrimp feed producer.

Mr Nesse obtained an MBA degree from the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration. He started his career with Nutreco as controller for the Skretting fish feed business in 1995. Apart from a two-year assignment as finance director for the Scana Group in China, he has held various management positions within Skretting in Norway and Chile since then. He has been a member of Nutreco’s executive board since 2009 and was appointed CEO in 2012.

10:30 AM

EIU Presentation: Coastal Governance Index (CGI)

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has measured the extent of coastal government regulation and management across 20 key ocean economies to identify best practices and areas for improvement in six thematic categories: policy and institutional capacity, the business environment for coastal activities, water quality, minerals and energy, land, and living resources.
This session will give an overview and analysis of key findings of the CGI and rank countries based on their performance.Presenter
Leo Abruzzese, global director of public policy, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Leo Abruzzese

Global director of public policy, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Leo Abruzzese

Global director of public policy, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Leo Abruzzese is global director of public policy for The Economist Intelligence Unit, overseeing analysis, research and modelling for governments, corporations, NGOs and foundations around the world. Mr Abruzzese also serves as executive editor for the EIU. Based in New York and Washington, he presents the company's outlook on the global economic and policy environment to clients.
Mr Abruzzese has more than 30 years’ experience covering economics, business and public policy. Until March 2015, he served as global forecasting director for The Economist Intelligence Unit. He has also served for the past six years as deputy editor of The Economist magazine’s annual “World in…” forecasting publication.

Mr Abruzzese joined The Economist Intelligence Unit in London in 1998 as editor of ViewsWire, which he built into a briefing service covering 200 countries for half a million business readers. He later assumed responsibility for all of the company’s web-based editorial operations. A year later he was named deputy director of the EIU’s Country Analysis division, where he helped to manage a team of more than 100 analysts. He also served as a macroeconomic analyst in the EIU’s Asia team and was the company’s chief analyst for India, Australia and Indonesia. He moved to New York in 2006 to manage EIU’s US-based editorial and research operations, and also assumed responsibility for the company’s financial services practice.

Between EIU assignments, Mr Abruzzese spent a year as lead editor for coverage of the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury at Bloomberg News LP in Washington. Before joining the EIU in 1998, Mr Abruzzese was Washington bureau chief and editorial director of the Journal of Commerce. He has a BA in liberal arts from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

10:40 AM

Panel discussion: The emerging policy environment

How are policymakers thinking about the blue economy? What ideas, policy statements, legislation, frameworks and guidelines (legal, institutional, financial) are being considered, put forward, expanded on and put into practice? What common threads are there in differing policy environments? Are policies oriented more towards economic growth or sustainability?This panel discussion will bring together policymakers from around the world for a discussion of the differences and similarities between their approaches and the challenges they face.How are governments likely to adopt practical measures that foster blue growth? What capabilities do they have in this area? How important is the role of government in setting the agenda for the blue economy?Panellists
Karmenu Vella, commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, European Commission
Kathryn Sullivan, under-secretary for oceans and atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce; administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Elisabeth Aspaker, minister of fisheries, Norway
Assunção Cristas, minister of agriculture and sea, PortugalModerator
Daniel Franklin, executive editor, The Economist

Karmenu Vella

Commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, European Commission

Karmenu Vella

Commissioner for environment, maritime affairs and fisheries, European Commission

In 1976 Karmenu Vella was elected to parliament. He continued to be elected in the nine consecutive elections that followed. In 1981 he was appointed as minister for public works, and in 1984 he was appointed as minister for industry. He served as minister for tourism in 1996–98, and was again appointed as minister for tourism in March 2013.

In 1973 he started his own private practice as an architect and civil engineer. In that year he was also appointed director of Mid-Med Bank, and in 1974 he became managing director of the Libyan Maltese Holding Company. In 2001 he was appointed executive chairman of Corinthia Hotels International. In 2009 and 2010 he served as executive chairman of the Mediterranean Construction. In 2010 he was also appointed chairman of Orange Travel Group; a foundation member of Vodafone Malta Foundation; and board director of Betfair Group.

He was also the founding chairman of the Maltese-Turkish Business Council.

He graduated with a degree in architecture and civil engineering from the University of Malta and later obtained his master of science in tourism management from Sheffield Hallam University.

Kathryn Sullivan

Under-secretary for oceans and atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce; administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Kathryn Sullivan

Under-secretary for oceans and atmosphere, U.S. Department of Commerce; administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Kathryn Sullivan was confirmed by the Senate as the under-secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator in March 2014, having served as acting NOAA administrator since February 2013. She is a distinguished scientist, renowned astronaut and intrepid explorer.

Prior to her current position, Dr Sullivan held the position of assistant secretary of commerce for environmental observation and prediction and deputy administrator. She is a distinguished scientist, renowned astronaut, and intrepid explorer.

Dr Sullivan is the United States co-chair of the Group on Earth Observations, an intergovernmental body that is building a Global Earth Observation System of Systems to provide environmental intelligence relevant to societal needs. She was the inaugural director of the Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at Ohio State University. Prior to joining Ohio State, she served a decade as president and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, one of the nation’s leading science museums.

Dr Sullivan was one of the first six women selected to join the NASA astronaut corps in 1978 and holds the distinction of being the first American woman to walk in space. She flew on three shuttle missions during her 15-year tenure. She has also served on the National Science Board (2004–10) and as an oceanographer in the US Navy Reserve (1988–2006). She holds a bachelor’s degree in earth sciences from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a doctorate in geology from Dalhousie University in Canada.

Elisabeth Aspaker

Minister of fisheries, Norway

Elisabeth Aspaker

Minister of fisheries, Norway

Elisabeth Aspaker is minister of fisheries and concurrently minister for the co-ordination of Nordic affairs. She was elected to parliament in 2005 and serves as a representative for the Conservative Party. She has been a member of the Standing Committee on Justice (2005–09) and a member of the Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs (2009–13).

Before becoming a member of parliament Ms Aspaker was state secretary, Ministry of Health and Care Services; political adviser, Ministry of Education and Research; and personal secretary, Ministry of Justice and the Police. Earlier in her career, she was a teacher.
She served as deputy chair of the Defence Policy Committee in 1999 and 2000 and as second vice-president of the Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sports from 1996 to 1999.

Assunção Cristas

Minister of agriculture and sea, Portugal

Assunção Cristas

Minister of agriculture and sea, Portugal

Assunção Cristas is minister of agriculture and sea of Portugal, and between 2011 and 2013 she was also minister of environment. She was adviser to the minister of justice and director of the Office for Legislative and Planning Department for the Ministry of Justice from 2002 to 2005. She has also worked as a legal consultant at a Lisbon law firm. She was an elected member of the parliament in 2009 by the circumscription of Leiria and re-elected in 2011, having served as a member of the Budget Committee, as well as the Agriculture and Fisheries Committee. Ms Cristas studied law and graduated from the University of Lisbon in 1997, where she was an assistant professor. She finished her PhD in 2005 at the New University of Lisbon, where she is a civil law professor.

11:30 AM

Networking break

12:00 PM

Panel discussion: Fisheries and the blue economy

Fishing rights are a crucial part of ocean governance: they belong to a system of institutional arrangements and science-based management that has allowed governments and the private sector to anchor a recovery of fish stocks while making fishing a more attractive investment proposition.This session sees the release of several important pieces of research that quantify the potential upside of fisheries reform globally—for economies, the longer-term viability of the fishing sector, and the health of the ocean itself. The World Bank will update its 2009 “Sunken Billions” report on economic losses due to market failures and inefficiencies in wild-catch fishing. Additional new research will, for the first time, estimate the economic benefits of fisheries reform on a country-by-country basis.Following the presentation of these reports, we will invite additional participants for a panel discussion to address the following questions:• Armed with this new analysis, how might governments approach their fisheries policies differently?
• How important is the private sector in driving the transformation of fisheries?
• What financial instruments could provide the upfront capital to fund a fisheries transition that will be difficult in the short term but have a long-term payback?Panellists
Susi Pudjiastuti, minister of marine affairs and fisheries, Indonesia
Mario Aguilar, national fisheries commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Rural Development, Fisheries and Food, Mexico
Christopher Costello, professor of environmental and resource economics, University of California, Santa Barbara
Paula Caballero, senior director, global practice for environment and natural resources, World Bank GroupModerator
Charles Goddard, editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit; editorial director, World Ocean Summit

Susi Pudjiastuti

Minister of marine affairs and fisheries, Indonesia

Susi Pudjiastuti

Minister of marine affairs and fisheries, Indonesia

Susi Pudjiastuti is Indonesia’s minister of marine affairs and fisheries under the cabinet of President Joko Widodo. Prior to her ministerial appointment, she is the owner and was the CEO of ASI Pudjiastuti Aviation, which operates the Susi Air airline in Indonesia; ASI Geosurvey; and ASI Pudjiastuti Marine Product, a seafood-export company based in Pangandaran, West Java.

Ms Pudjiastuti is a recipient of many awards and honours, including the APEC Award for Innovative Achievements, Extraordinary Leadership and Significant Contributions to the Economy at the Women and Economy Summit (2011); Primaniyarta Award for Best Small and Medium Enterprise by the President of Republic of Indonesia (2005); Ernst and Young Indonesia Young Entrepreneur of the Year (2005); Ganesha Widya Jasa Aditama Award by the Bandung Institute of Technology (2011); and Metro Eagle Award, Award for Economics, given by Metro TV Indonesia (2006).

Mario Aguilar

National commissioner of aquaculture and fisheries, Mexico

Mario Aguilar

National commissioner of aquaculture and fisheries, Mexico

Mario Aguilar is the national commissioner for aquaculture and fisheries at the ministry of agriculture, livestock rural development fisheries and food of Mexico. He designs and implements the national policy for sustainable management of fisheries and aquatic resources, as well as the development and promotion of fisheries and aquaculture activities.

Mr Aguilar is responsible for monitoring the relevant policy and international affairs of which Mexico is a part. He has also served as fishing affairs minister at the Mexican embassy in Washington, DC; minister counselor for environment, social development and fisheries; and alternate representative for legal affairs in Mexico's mission at the Organization of the American States in Washington, DC. He has also represented Mexico in international forums.

Christopher Costello

Professor of environmental and resource economics University of California Santa Barbara

Christopher Costello

Professor of environmental and resource economics University of California Santa Barbara

Christopher Costello is a professor of environmental and resource economics at the University of California, Santa Barbara, US, and a research associate with the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research concerns natural-resource economics and policy concerning property rights, with a focus on decision-making under uncertainty, information, asset values and resource dynamics. His work combines theoretical microeconomics with modelling and empirical analysis, often to inform policy on fisheries management, biological diversity, introduced species, industrial regulation or marine policy. Mr Costello partners with others to translate his research into on-the-ground action in several countries including Peru, Chile, Mexico, Cuba, Indonesia, China and Cambodia. He serves on several boards including Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Science Advisory Board and Environmental Defense Fund’s Economics Board, and has published over 80 peer-reviewed papers in journals such as Science, Nature and the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Paula Caballero

Global director, climate programme, World Resources Institute

Paula Caballero

Global director, climate programme, World Resources Institute

Paula Caballero is the global director of the World Resources Institute’s climate programme. She has a long history in the field of development, including service as senior director of the World Bank Group’s environment and natural resources global practice, where she oversaw a portfolio of over $7bn that responded to an array of development issues in productive landscapes and forests, fisheries and aquaculture, pollution and environmental health, environmental economics, and environmental safeguards. In her position as director for economic, social and environmental affairs in Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she is widely recognised as the lead proponent of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. She was awarded a Zayed International Prize in 2014 for her work on sustainable development issues. Prior to that she worked with the UN Development Programme, in the private sector and in academia.

12:50 PM

Welcome remarks

12:55 PM

Networking lunch

2:10 PM

Streams: Roadmap to blue

Marine pollution such as industrial, urban and agricultural runoff, along with plastics and other debris, comes largely from on-land activities. While many governments and corporations are starting clean-up programmes, are they doing enough to restrict the flow of land-based pollution into the ocean? This stream will examine what progress is being made and what further action is needed.Panellists
Andrew Morlet, chief executive, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
Stephen de Mora, chief executive, Plymouth Marine Laboratory
Karl Foerster, executive director, PlasticsEurope
José Melo Bandeira, country director, Portugal, VeoliaModerator
James Astill, political editor and Bagehot columnist, The Economist

Andrew Morlet

Chief executive, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Andrew Morlet

Chief executive, Ellen MacArthur Foundation

Andrew Morlet is the chief executive of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which promotes economic development that is restorative and regenerative by design, and which enables the shift to renewable energy.

Mr Morlet has over 25 years’ experience in strategic management consulting working with CEOs and board-level and senior executives of many of the largest global companies in the automotive, consumer, financial services, healthcare, industrials, pharmaceuticals, resources, hospitality, travel and transport sectors across the US, UK/Europe and Asia-Pacific.

Stephen de Mora

Chief executive, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Stephen de Mora

Chief executive, Plymouth Marine Laboratory

Stephen de Mora is the chief executive of Plymouth Marine Laboratory and an honorary visiting professor in biosciences at the University of Exeter. Educated in chemistry and oceanography, he has taught chemistry, environmental science and oceanography at universities in the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada. After 20 years in academia, he joined the International Atomic Energy Agency; he was based in Monaco. Through the IAEA, he worked with several Regional Seas Programmes and Global Environment Facility international waters projects around the world. Before returning to the UK in 2008, he had established an environmental consultancy based in Canada working for various UN bodies and the World Bank on assignment mostly in Eastern Europe, Western Asia and Central Africa. He assisted the United Nations Environment Programme in formulating a Caspian Action Plan under the auspices of the Tehran Convention. His areas of research expertise include environmental analytical chemistry, marine pollution monitoring and assessment, and polar science.

Karl Foerster

Executive director, PlasticsEurope

Karl Foerster

Executive director, PlasticsEurope

Karl-H Foerster was appointed executive director of Plastics Europe in October 2013. Mr Foerster was former CEO of Neochimiki Group, Athens. For more than 30 years, Mr Foerster has been working in the chemical and plastics industry. Before joining Neochimiki, he served as vice-president at PolymerLatex. During his 20 years at BASF SE, he held various executive management positions, focusing on the company’s global expansion and the restructuring of its European polymer business. He has been working in ten countries in Europe, Asia and North America. Mr Foerster graduated from the universities of Wuerzburg/Germany (economics) and Rhode Island/US (MBA).

José Melo Bandeira

Country director, Portugal, Veolia

José Melo Bandeira

Country director, Portugal, Veolia

Jose Melo Bandeira first joined Veolia Group in 2004, leading the company’s activities in Portugal. Veolia delivers specialist solutions to provide, protect and replenish resources while increasing their efficiency. Solutions for water, energy and waste recovery promote the transition towards a circular economy, contributing directly to the sustainability performance of cities and industries, and allowing customers in the public and private sectors to pursue development while protecting the environment.

Mr Bandeira has worked in the infrastructure sector first with Odebrecht Group and later in Sacyr Group. He is a member of the board of directors of COGEN. He has a degree in civil engineering from IST Lisbon, an MBA by Nova School of Business and Economics, and an AMP from Kellogg/Catholic University.

2:10 PM

Streams: Roadmap to blue

Putting a valuation on natural capital, and incorporating it in costings of public- and private-sector activities in the ocean, is often said to be the cornerstone of any future blue economy. In the area of fresh water, and to a lesser extent in the ocean, there are already examples that suggest how such a financial accounting methodology could benefit business and ecosystems alike. Yet the hype overshadows the substance. The plethora of accounting models appearing could choke the good ones before they can rise and flourish. Regulatory measures to correct market failures are still largely absent, as are incentives for businesses to put a value on the waters they rely on.• Why is it proving so difficult to sell business on the idea of valuing natural capital?
• Does the ocean present a special set of difficulties in this area?
• What are the lessons from how we deal with greenhouse-gas emissions?
• Do different sectors (fishing and renewable power, for example) need different pricing systems? Does our current approach need sharpening?
• What would shadow-pricing mechanisms look like in these sectors?Panellists
Torsten Thiele, founder, Global Ocean Trust
Dorothy Maxwell, author, “Valuing Natural Capital: Futureproofing Business and Finance”; director, The Sustainable Business Group
Richard Mattison, chief executive officer, Trucost
Carl Obst, honorary research fellow, University of Melbourne Sustainable Society InstituteModerator
Andrew Palmer, business affairs editor, The Economist

Torsten Thiele

Founder and managing partner, Global Ocean Trust

Torsten Thiele

Founder and managing partner, Global Ocean Trust

Torsten Thiele is an expert in ocean finance, promoting sustainable marine governance based on innovative solutions. As senior adviser to the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) Blue Natural Capital Finance Facility, lead on the London School of Economics IGA Blue Finance Initiative and research associate at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, he contributes to a wide range of ocean efforts, drawing on his many years of experience in project and infrastructure finance with major banks. Mr Thiele holds graduate degrees from Bonn, Harvard and Cambridge Universities. He speaks and publishes regularly on ocean issues.

Dorothy Maxwell

Author, "Valuing Natural Capital: Future Proofing Business and Finance" and director, The Sustainable Business Group

Dorothy Maxwell

Author, "Valuing Natural Capital: Future Proofing Business and Finance" and director, The Sustainable Business Group

Dr. Dorothy Maxwell, author of Valuing Natural Capital - Future Proofing Business and Finance , is 24 years working in sustainability with businesses, government and NGOs in the EU, Asia Pacific and US. Trained as an environmental economist and scientist, she has worked with Accenture, Willis, European Commission, been a Special Advisor to The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit , the UK government Sustainable Products and Green Economy programmes and Executive Director of the Natural Capital Coalition. She is Founding Director of The Sustainable Business Group consultancy.

Richard Mattison

Chief executive officer, Trucost

Richard Mattison

Chief executive officer, Trucost

Richard Mattison is chief executive of Trucost, the leading provider of natural capital measurement and valuation. Trucost has been helping companies, investors, governments, academics and thought leaders to understand the economic consequences of natural capital dependency for over 15 years.

Mr Mattison has advised various UN bodies and governments on environmental reporting and ecosystem services and has led ground-breaking projects, including developing the world’s first environmental profit and loss account for PUMA, valuing the environmental externalities of the world’s 3,000 largest companies for the UN Principles for Responsible Investment, and producing the UK government’s Environmental Reporting Guidelines for Business.

He is also a member of the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Biodiversity and Natural Capital, member of the Oxford University Smith School Stranded Asset Programme consultative panel, adviser to The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) coalition, fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a regular public speaker on environmental matters.

Previously Mr Mattison held a number of senior positions as a strategy consultant with Mitchell Madison Group. He began his career as a neuroscientist. He holds a PhD in neuroscience from the University of Edinburgh.

Carl Obst

Honorary research fellow, University of Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute

Carl Obst

Honorary research fellow, University of Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute

Carl Obst is an honorary research fellow at the Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute, University of Melbourne, and consults primarily to international organisations and national governments on projects related to natural capital accounting. He is currently involved in projects with the UNEP-TEEB office, the FAO, Natural Capital Protocol, UN Statistics Division and the World Bank WAVES programme. From 2010 to 2013 Mr Obst was editor of the UN System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA), now adopted as an international statistical standard. An economist/econometrician by training, he had a 19-year career with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, developing expertise in the measurement of national accounts and GDP. He was head of the ABS National Accounts Branch from 2003 to 2008, and also worked for three years with the OECD in Paris on economic data and sustainable-development indicators.

2:10 PM

Streams: Roadmap to blue

This stream will address what institutional, economic and governance mechanisms are needed to build a fully functioning blue economy. What conflicts or tensions arise as a consequence of competing considerations? Who are the key stakeholders that deserve a seat at the table?Panellists
Ronan Uhel, head of programme, natural systems and vulnerability, European Environment Agency
Stefan Micallef, director of marine environment division, International Maritime Organization
Rupert Thomas, vice-president environment, Royal Dutch Shell
Maria Damanaki, global managing director for oceans, The Nature ConservancyModerator
Daniel Franklin, executive editor, The Economist

Ronan Uhel

Head of programme, natural systems and vulnerability European Environment Agency

Ronan Uhel

Head of programme, natural systems and vulnerability European Environment Agency

Ronan Uhel has served as the EEA’s head of programme for natural systems and vulnerability since 2009. He is responsible to the executive director for the strategic and operational activities on inter-connected topics, covering ecosystems and biodiversity, inland waters and marine environment, land and territorial issues, and adaptation to climate change, including the coverage of the agriculture, forest and maritime sectors. He therefore has responsibilities for several European topic centres of the EEA. He joined the EEA in October 1995 as project manager for State of the Environment reporting and was appointed head of group land use in 2003.

With a background in geography, physical planning and oceanography, and a European Commission trainee in EU environmental legislation and regional policies, Mr Uhel has 25 years of professional experience in environmental and sustainable development information, analysis and assessments at the European and international levels. His work bridges science (knowledge) and policy (actions), assessing the state of the environment (SoE) and related policy effectiveness. He has held co-ordination and editorial responsibilities for many studies, reports and publications on EEA-related topics, with broad coverage from economic sectors to technologies to education. He participates in many committees and working groups at European and international levels on environmental governance and has been a speaker/discussant at conferences and workshops covering all aspects of environment/development issues.

Before joining the EEA, Mr Uhel worked for the French Institute for the Environment (1993–95), where he was in charge of the CORINE (Co-ordination of Information on the Environment) land-cover programme. From 1985 to 1992 he worked for the EC Directorate-General for Environment and Civil Protection on EU state of the environment reports and the CORINE programme.

Stefan Micallef

Stefan Micallef

Stefan Micallef started his career with the UN in 1990 as a programme officer at the UNEP/IMO Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Response Centre for the Mediterranean Sea (REMPEC), based in Malta. In 2000, he joined UNEP’s Division of Environmental Policy Implementation in Nairobi, Kenya, as chief of the disaster-management branch. In 2004, he moved to the headquarters of the International Maritime Organisation as head of the chemical and air pollution prevention section in the Marine Environment Division. In 2007, he became deputy director of the sub-division for pollution response and technical co-operation and is currently its director, a post he has held since January 2012. As director of the division, he is responsible for the Secretariat functions behind all the regulatory and capacity-building matters relating to the protection of the marine and atmospheric environment from ship-source pollution by oil, noxious and hazardous substances, sewage, garbage, alien invasive species and anti-fouling systems, as well as the prevention of air pollution and the control of greenhouse-gas emissions from ships. He also serves as secretary to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and administrative secretary of the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP). He graduated with a PhD in marine toxicology from the University of Wales, UK.

José María Figueres

José María Figueres

José María Figueres was president of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998, under a one-term constitutional mandate. Since leaving government, Mr Figueres has served on numerous boards. He was chairman of LEAD (Leadership for Environment and Development) as well as the small-business agency FUNDES Internacional. In 2000, he was appointed managing director of the World Economic Forum and served as the organisation’s first chief executive between 2003 and 2004. He has also been a director of the World Resources Institute, the Stockholm Environment Institute and WWF.

From 2009 until 2011, when its mandate was completed, Mr Figueres served on the UN secretary-general’s Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change. Between 2012 and 2104, he served as president of the Carbon War Room (chief executive), before becoming chairman of the board for Rocky Mountain Institute and Carbon War Room in 2015.

Mr Figueres graduated in engineering from the United States Military Academy (West Point). He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University.

4:00 PM

Ocean Innovation Challenge: Time to innovate

Joseph Schumpeter believed that entrepreneurs are innovators: people who come up with ideas. The new, blue ocean economy is an opportunity for established ocean businesses to radically rethink the way they operate, and for entrepreneurs to make their new, creative ideas a reality.This session will showcase the top three shortlisted entries from the Ocean Innovation Challenge. Each innovator will have four minutes to present their innovation. One winner will be selected based on the following criteria:• To what extent does the innovation demonstrate inspiring, breakthrough processes or technologies that contribute to building a sustainable blue economy?
• Is it market-ready or near-market, with a working prototype?
• Is it scalable?Presenters
Warwick Norman, chief executive officer, RightShip
Tony Long, director, Pew Charitable Trusts, Project Eyes on the Seas
Roger Hine, co-founder and chief technology officer, Liquid RoboticsJudging panel
Adam Anders, managing partner, Anterra Capital
Margot Kane, vice-president, strategic initiatives, Calvert Foundation
Kelly Wachowicz, partner, Encourage CapitalModerator
Andrew Palmer, business affairs editor, The Economist

Warwick Norman

Chief executive officer, RightShip

Warwick Norman

Chief executive officer, RightShip

Warwick Norman has been chief executive officer of RightShip since its inception in 2001. Under his stewardship the company has become a global authority on maritime safety and environmental sustainability, helping shippers, terminals and ports, ship owners, managers and maritime finance organisations to minimise their maritime and environmental risk.

A third-generation seafarer, Captain Norman sailed from cadet to the rank of master in ASP Ship Management’s tanker fleet. Prior to joining RightShip, he was the marine standards manager at BHP Billiton, where he was responsible for ensuring the company adhered to national and international standards for quality assurance, international safety management, and safety and environmental protection as well as salvage operations and insurance issues.

Captain Norman has lectured in tanker safety at Australian maritime colleges, served as a board member of the Seafarers’ Workers Compensation and Rehabilitation Board and the Marine Council, and is currently a member of Lloyd’s Register Asia advisory committee and chairman of AUSMEPA (Australian Marine Environment Protection Association).

Tony Long

Director, Pew Charitable Trusts, Project Eyes on the Seas

Tony Long

Director, Pew Charitable Trusts, Project Eyes on the Seas

Tony Long directs the Pew Charitable Trusts’ work to end illegal fishing and initiated Pew’s partnership with the Satellite Applications Catapult on Project Eyes on the Seas, a ground-breaking maritime monitoring system. He directs a globally distributed team with projects on international policy, maritime enforcement and technology, all geared towards ending illegal fishing across the world’s oceans. Mr Long joined Pew in 2012 after 27 years in the British Royal Navy, where he reached the rank of commander. He served on the First Sea Lord’s strategy team, providing defence planning and policy support to the head of the Navy. He has focused on maritime surveillance for much of his career, from helicopter operations to commanding a mine-hunter (HMS Blyth) and a frigate (HMS Monmouth). He has spent extensive time at sea, including patrols in the Atlantic Ocean, Persian Gulf, Indian Ocean and the Far East.

Roger Hine

Co-founder and chief technology officer, Liquid Robotics

Roger Hine

Co-founder and chief technology officer, Liquid Robotics

A mechanical engineer, robotics expert and entrepreneur with vision and determination, Roger Hine invented and patented the ability to convert wave energy into forward propulsion. This disruptive technology produced the Liquid Robotics Wave Glider, a wave-powered, long-endurance autonomous marine robot that is changing the way the world monitors and explores the oceans.

As co-founder of Liquid Robotics, Mr Hine has led the company from initial concept to one recognised as one of the world’s most innovative companies. The most notable awards are the World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer (2013) and The Economist’s inaugural Ocean Innovation Challenge for the most innovative technology fostering the blue economy (2015).

Prior to forming Liquid Robotics, he directed robotics and automation technology development programmes at Asyst Technologies, a semiconductor equipment manufacturer.

Mr Hine received his bachelor of arts in economics from Wesleyan University and his master of science in mechanical engineering from Stanford University.

Adam Anders

Managing partner, Anterra Capital

Adam Anders

Managing partner, Anterra Capital

Adam Anders is the managing partner of Anterra Capital, an independent growth-capital fund that invests in fast-growing companies that transform the way we produce, move and consume food. Core to this focus is supporting innovation in the ocean economy. Anterra was founded in 2013 from a spin-out of Rabobank’s proprietary venture capital fund, Rabo Ventures. The fund is backed by Rabobank, a global leader in food and agriculture financing; and Moonray Investors, the proprietary investment arm of Fidelity International. Mr Anders has more than 15 years’ private equity and venture capital experience. Earlier in his career he worked as a management consultant with Bain & Co. He holds an MBA degree from Cambridge University, England, and a bachelor’s degree in law and a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Adelaide, Australia.

Margot Kane

Vice-president, strategic initiatives, Calvert Foundation

Margot Kane

Vice-president, strategic initiatives, Calvert Foundation

Margot Kane develops new investment strategies and partnerships at Calvert Foundation, an impact-investment fund based in the US that has raised and invested over $1bn into low-income communities around the world over the past 20 years. She has led several initiatives focused on areas such as women’s empowerment, urban revitalisation, small-business lending and diaspora engagement in international development, and is managing new R&D around an environmental portfolio. Her professional background includes international development, public health and community development finance. She has an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley, and a BA from Macalester College.

Kelly Wachowicz

Partner, Encourage Capital

Kelly Wachowicz

Partner, Encourage Capital

Kelly Wachowicz is a partner at Encourage Capital, an impact-investment firm focused on the creation of capital-market solutions to social and environmental challenges, with practice areas in oceans, carbon, fresh water, green infrastructure, forestry, agriculture, and financial inclusion. Ms Wachowicz serves as the leader of Encourage's sustainable fisheries advisory and investment strategies, and has advised and collaborated with industry, government, foundations, development finance institutions and non-governmental organisations to develop the case for sustainable fisheries investment in the US, Chile, Brazil, the Philippines and the Eastern Pacific tuna fishery.

She brings more than 20 years of expertise in real-asset investment to her current role, having previously worked in private equity, asset management and investment banking in the forestry and real-estate sectors. Most recently, Ms Wachowicz was managing director and COO of Alliance Bernstein's real-estate fund, and previously served as vice-president of iStar/Timberstar’s $2bn timberland portfolio. She began her career with Goldman Sachs in investment banking and corporate strategy.

Ms Wachowicz received a BA in history with honours from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and she holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

4:50 PM

Keynote interview

Catherine Novelli, under-secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, Department of State, United StatesModerator
Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief, The Economist

Catherine Novelli

Under-secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, Department of State, United States

Catherine Novelli

Under-secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment, Department of State, United States

Catherine A Novelli was sworn in as under-secretary of state for economic growth, energy and the environment on February 18th 2014. In this capacity, she leads the State Department’s efforts to develop and implement economic growth, energy, agricultural, ocean, environmental, and science and technology policies to promote economic prosperity and address global challenges in a transparent, rules-based and sustainable system.

Prior to assuming her current duties, she was vice-president, worldwide government affairs, at Apple. In that role, Ms Novelli headed an international team responsible for Apple’s federal, international, and state and local government relations and public policy. Formerly assistant US trade representative for Europe and the Mediterranean, Ms Novelli co-ordinated US trade and investment policy for the over 65 countries of Western Europe, Central Europe, Russia, the NIS, the Middle East and Northern Africa.

Ms Novelli is a graduate of Tufts University, holds a law degree from the University of Michigan and a master of laws from the University of London (with concentrations in international and comparative law at the London School of Economics and School of Oriental and Asian Studies).

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes is the editor-in-chief of The Economist. Previously she was the business affairs editor, responsible for the newspaper’s coverage of business, finance and science. Prior to her current appointment she led the paper’s global economic coverage as economics editor, co-ordinating a team of writers around the world. Until November 2007, Ms Minton Beddoes was US economics editor, focused on the American economy and its global impact, and earlier she served as The Economist’s emerging-markets correspondent based in London.

5:25 PM

Close of day one

7:00 PM

Cocktail reception

7:30 PM

Ocean Innovation Challenge winner announcement

Chris Stibbs, chief executive officer, The Economist Group

Chris Stibbs

Chief executive officer, The Economist Group

Chris Stibbs

Chief executive officer, The Economist Group

Chris Stibbs became the chief executive of The Economist Group in July 2013. He has been with the Group for ten years. Prior to becoming CEO, he ran The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) for three years, overseeing its growth in customised bespoke solutions, Asia and health-care markets. He had previously been the chief financial officer for the Group.

Before joining the Group, Mr Stibbs had various roles in finance, business development and general management in varied organisations such as Pearson, ICI and Incisive Media. He graduated as a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in 1989 and is also a fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.

7:35 PM

Welcome remarks

Marc Hayek, president and chief executive officer, Blancpain

Marc Hayek

President and chief executive officer, Blancpain

Marc Hayek

President and chief executive officer, Blancpain

Marc Hayek is the president and CEO of three leading Swiss watchmaking brands, namely Breguet, Blancpain and Jaquet Droz. He is member of the Swatch Group executive management board, responsible for François Golay, Simon Et Membrez, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

In 1992, Mr Hayek decided to join the family business and started to work for Swatch in the PR and marketing department, responsible for public relations and events. Two years later, Certina employed him as marketing and sponsor manager. In 1996, he decided to explore new horizons and opened a restaurant on his own in Zurich. He created a new concept of restaurant/cigar lounge with shop offering a large product selection of food, wine and cigars; it quickly became a social hub for Zurich’s international community. After this five-year experience, in 2001, Mr Hayek re-joined the Swatch Group as marketing manager at Blancpain. The next year, he took over as president and CEO of the brand, allowing it to undergo a revival. In June 2010, he added to his responsibilities that of president and CEO of Breguet, followed a couple of weeks later by his designation as president and CEO of Jaquet Droz.

Mr Hayek obtained from a master’s degree in business and marketing in the University of Southern California in 1991.

An ocean conversation

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes is the editor-in-chief of The Economist. Previously she was the business affairs editor, responsible for the newspaper’s coverage of business, finance and science. Prior to her current appointment she led the paper’s global economic coverage as economics editor, co-ordinating a team of writers around the world. Until November 2007, Ms Minton Beddoes was US economics editor, focused on the American economy and its global impact, and earlier she served as The Economist’s emerging-markets correspondent based in London.

Terry Garcia

Chief science and exploration officer, National Geographic Society

Terry Garcia

Chief science and exploration officer, National Geographic Society

Terry Garcia is chief science and exploration officer for the National Geographic Society. He is responsible for the Society’s core mission programmes, including those that support and manage more than 400 scientific field research, conservation and exploration projects annually. He also oversees the Society’s Explorers-in-Residence, Fellows and Emerging Explorers programmes; National Geographic Museum and exhibitions; live events; and location-based entertainment.

In June 2010 Mr Garcia was appointed by President Obama to serve on the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. The commission investigated the root causes of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and made recommendations on how to prevent—and mitigate the impact of—any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

Prior to joining National Geographic, he was assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, US Department of Commerce, and deputy administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he directed US coastal, ocean and atmospheric programmes. From 1994 to 1996, he was NOAA’s general counsel. In that capacity he led the implementation of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Plan for Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.

Before entering government service, Mr Garcia was a partner in the national law firms of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Hughes Hubbard & Reed.

7:55 PM

Dinner served

9:00 PM

Special presentation

Brian Skerry, photojournalist, National Geographic Society

Brian Skerry

Photojournalist, National Geographic Society

Brian Skerry

Photojournalist, National Geographic Society

Brian Skerry is an award-winning photojournalist specialising in marine wildlife and underwater environments. Since 1998 he has been a contract photographer for National Geographic magazine and in 2014 was named a National Geographic Photography Fellow.

His work has covered a wide range of subjects, from endangered species to issues such as overfishing and aquaculture. Mr Skerry frequently lectures worldwide, having presented at venues such as the World Economic Forum in Davos, TED Talks, the National Press Club in Washington, DC, the Royal Geographical Society in London and the Sydney Opera House in Australia. He is also a regular guest on television programmes and reaches additional audiences through a strong social-media following.

In 2010 National Geographic magazine named one of Mr Skerry’s images among their 50 Greatest Photographs of all Time. Recent exhibits of his work have been held in numerous cities including Lisbon, Paris, Geneva, Barcelona, Lisbon and Shanghai.

Closing remarks

Terry Garcia

Chief science and exploration officer, National Geographic Society

Terry Garcia

Chief science and exploration officer, National Geographic Society

Terry Garcia is chief science and exploration officer for the National Geographic Society. He is responsible for the Society’s core mission programmes, including those that support and manage more than 400 scientific field research, conservation and exploration projects annually. He also oversees the Society’s Explorers-in-Residence, Fellows and Emerging Explorers programmes; National Geographic Museum and exhibitions; live events; and location-based entertainment.

In June 2010 Mr Garcia was appointed by President Obama to serve on the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. The commission investigated the root causes of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and made recommendations on how to prevent—and mitigate the impact of—any future spills that result from offshore drilling.

Prior to joining National Geographic, he was assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere, US Department of Commerce, and deputy administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), where he directed US coastal, ocean and atmospheric programmes. From 1994 to 1996, he was NOAA’s general counsel. In that capacity he led the implementation of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Plan for Prince William Sound and the Gulf of Alaska.

Before entering government service, Mr Garcia was a partner in the national law firms of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Hughes Hubbard & Reed.

9:45 PM

Close of evening

June 5th

Friday

8:30 AM

Registration opens

9:00 AM

Opening remarks

Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes is the editor-in-chief of The Economist. Previously she was the business affairs editor, responsible for the newspaper’s coverage of business, finance and science. Prior to her current appointment she led the paper’s global economic coverage as economics editor, co-ordinating a team of writers around the world. Until November 2007, Ms Minton Beddoes was US economics editor, focused on the American economy and its global impact, and earlier she served as The Economist’s emerging-markets correspondent based in London.

Pressures on the ocean are mounting as countries and companies seek new sources of growth and food security, and natural resources from coasts and seas. Investing in the blue economy is now often seen as an important goal of maritime development, and it is a great economic opportunity if it can be done right. Yet many businesses are scrambling to understand how.Established corporations that have relied on traditional business models recognise the opportunity in going “blue”, yet in many cases they are deterred by the costs such a transformation would require. Meanwhile, newer ocean industries with “blue” business models often face an unfavourable regulatory regime or challenges in securing funding.• Can money be made from transforming existing business models into sustainable investments in the ocean? In what sectors is this possible? What is the business case for transitioning to a “blue” business model?
• Where are the greatest opportunities for existing industries to develop new, “blue” products and services that sit alongside (or even replace) their current offerings?
• What policy settings and incentives need to be in place?Panellists
James Hnat, executive vice-president of corporate affairs, general counsel and corporate secretary, JetBlue Airways
Mark Shorrock, chief executive officer, Tidal Lagoon Power
Roger Strevens, chairman, The Trident Alliance; vice-president, environment, Wallenius Wilhelmsen LogisticsModerator
Dominic Ziegler, Asia editor, The Economist

James Hnat

James Hnat joined JetBlue Airways in June 2001, and was named general counsel in February 2003. In March 2007, Mr Hnat was named executive vice-president. He is responsible for legal, government affairs, compliance and sustainability. He was also named corporate secretary in March 2007.

Mr Hnat previously served as an attorney at the New York office of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley and McCloy. His aviation legal practice began in airline defence litigation at Condon & Forsyth’s New York office. He serves as a member of the bar of New York and Massachusetts.

Mr Hnat received his bachelor of arts degree in economics and political science from Boston University and earned a juris doctor degree from Notre Dame Law School.

Mark Shorrock

chief executive, Tidal Lagoon Power

Mark Shorrock

chief executive, Tidal Lagoon Power

Mark Shorrock is a successful innovator who has been working in the renewable-energy industry since 2002. To date he has achieved planning consent on 28 renewable-energy projects, 22 of which have been powered on. Most recently, he has been responsible for the build-out of over 224 mw of UK solar capacity.

Mr Shorrock began work on a series of UK tidal lagoon power plants in 2011, addressing project risks in the areas of environment, build cost, turbines, grid, land, planning and local stakeholders. The first of these—the 320-mw Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon—is scheduled to enter construction in 2015.

Roger Strevens

Roger Strevens

As vice-president and global head of environment at Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL), Roger Strevens is responsible for maintaining the company’s front-runner position in the industry. He is one of the more outspoken industry figures on environmental matters, with frequent press articles and conference addresses.

In July 2014 Mr Strevens became the inaugural chairman of the Trident Alliance, a shipping-industry group he initiated that is working for robust and effective enforcement of sulphur regulation. The initiative aims to preserve fair competition, and environmental and health interests.

He holds an engineering degree from the University of Dublin, Trinity College. Before joining WWL he worked for six years in environmental product management and business development roles within the maritime sector and for four years in the municipal water treatment sector.

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler is The Economist‘s senior Asia correspondent and Banyan columnist. He joined the newspaper in 1986 as a financial reporter. He went on to become Finance Editor, then Washington Correspondent from 1991-94. He was the newspaper’s China Correspondent from 1994-2000, based first in Hong Kong and then Beijing. He went back to London as Finance and Economics Editor in 2001. In 2004 he returned to the United States as an acting Washington Correspondent, and after that stood in for half a year as editor of the Books and Arts section, before serving as Deputy Editor of Intelligent Life, an Economist publication. Mr Ziegler was Tokyo Bureau Chief from 2005-09 and then founding author of The Economist‘s Banyan column on Asian affairs, before returning to London in late 2010 to take up the position of Asia Editor.

10:15 AM

Lightning round: Blue data

With advances in tracking technology, data-driven monitoring platforms can give companies and governments near real-time data on activity in the seas.The immediate benefits are to the fishing and shipping industries, through enhanced transparency, fuel economy and shipping-route efficiency, and control of piracy and human trafficking.Yet these advancements do not come without challenges—data manipulation chief among them. Law-breaking companies and individuals have previously found ways to falsify their surveillance information and work around technologies like Automatic Identification System (AIS) transmitters.In this series of back-to-back presentations, we explore the new data-driven technology platforms and services coming to market. How will these surveillance systems add to the “blue economy” and help curb illegal activity on the high seas? How do they address the challenges faced by previous technologically enabled tracking and policing initiatives? And what practical measures can businesses take to adopt and benefit from this new wave of blue data?Presenters
Brian Sullivan, program manager, Google Ocean
Ami Daniel, co-founder and chief executive officer, Windward

Brian Sullivan

Program manager, Google Ocean

Brian Sullivan

Program manager, Google Ocean

Brian Sullivan is a program manager for Google Ocean, part of a broader team dedicated to leveraging and developing Google’s infrastructure to address global environmental, health and humanitarian issues.

His most recent project, Global Fishing Watch, developed in partnership with SkyTruth and Oceana, is producing the first interactive view of industrial fishing at a global scale. Through satellite technology and a big-data approach, it aims to empower all stakeholders, including governments, the entire fishing supply chain, research institutions and the general public with new tools to better inform sustainable practices and management policies. He has presented it at the United Nations, in conversations with governmental ministries, and aboard ocean trawlers.

Earlier in his career, Mr Sullivan focused on business intelligence and strategic partnerships at Google, served as a management consultant in financial services, and directed digital-divide programmes in West Africa. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in systems engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ami Daniel

Co-founder and chief executive officer, Windward

Ami Daniel

Co-founder and chief executive officer, Windward

Ami Daniel is the CEO and co-founder of Windward, a maritime data and analytics company, bringing unprecedented visibility to the maritime domain. Founded in 2010, Windward has built the world's first maritime data platform, the Windward Mind, which analyses and organises the world's maritime data. The Windward Mind makes the data accessible and actionable across verticals, from flagging criminal threats at sea to identifying new market-trading opportunities.

An entrepreneur with a lifelong interest in large-scale social and technological change, Mr Daniel is the recipient of the Israeli President's Award for Social Activism and the Ilan Ramon Award for Leadership and Excellence. In 2013, he was included in a distinguished group of the 40 most promising managers under 40 published by TheMarker magazine, and was named a Tel Aviv leader by Leaders magazine. He holds a law degree from the University of Tel Aviv.

10:35 AM

Introduction to working groups: Blue opportunities, blue growth?

This brief introduction will outline the working groups’ scope and focus. Each will begin with a panel discussion, to be followed by an interactive dialogue between participants examining new “blue” business opportunities and approaches at an industry level.Charles Goddard, editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit; editorial director, World Ocean Summit
Paul Holthus, founding chief executive officer and president, World Ocean Council

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

Paul Holthus

Founding chief executive officer and president, World Ocean Council

Paul Holthus

Founding chief executive officer and president, World Ocean Council

Paul Holthus is the founding president and CEO of the World Ocean Council (WOC), an international business leadership alliance on corporate ocean responsibility. The WOC brings together oil and gas, shipping, fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, offshore renewables and other ocean industries, creating an unprecedented ocean business community and private-sector leadership in addressing shared marine-sustainability challenges.

Mr Holthus has held senior positions with the United Nations Environment Programme and international environmental organisations, including serving as deputy director of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Marine Programme. Among other things, he originated the “coral triangle” concept, a successful large seascape approach to international sustainable ocean development.

Since 1998, Mr Holthus has worked primarily with the private sector to develop practical solutions to ocean sustainability and responsible-use challenges. He has worked in over 30 countries with companies, communities, industry associations, UN agencies, international non-governmental organisations and foundations. He was one of five people invited to be a member of the UN secretary-general’s Expert Group on Oceans for Rio+20.

Mr Holthus is a graduate of the University of California and the University of Hawaii, with advanced degrees in marine resource management and international business. He was a Fulbright Scholar and is an alum of the East-West Center.

Pace Ralli

Co-founder and chief executive officer, Clean Marine Energy

Pace Ralli

Co-founder and chief executive officer, Clean Marine Energy

Pace Ralli is co-founder and CEO of Clean Marine Energy. He brings a unique finance, energy and environmental background to the shipping industry. After receiving his MBA, Mr Ralli transitioned from corporate finance to energy, focusing on energy efficiency and natural gas at Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), the largest publicly traded utility in California. He later became principal at an energy-efficiency financing company and launched a fund to finance large building retrofits and unlock large-scale emissions reductions in commercial real estate. Adapting the model for the shipping industry, he engineered the Emissions Compliance Service Agreement to unlock parallel benefits in ship emissions, by eliminating the capital barriers that ship owners face when converting to LNG fuelling to meet Emission Control Area (ECA) compliance in North America and Northern Europe.

Mr Ralli currently serves on the Board of Directors for WesPac Midstream, a clean-energy infrastructure company. He graduated with a BA from Middlebury College and with an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

John Lyras

Vice-chairman, International Chamber of Shipping

John Lyras

Vice-chairman, International Chamber of Shipping

John Lyras is a principal of Paralos Maritime Corporation, and has been involved in shipping since 1975. He comes from a Greek seafaring family with a tradition in shipping that goes back four generations.

Mr Lyras has served as president and vice-president of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) and has been a member of the board since 1979. He is chairman of the UGS foreign affairs committee. He has been president and vice-president of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations. He has been involved with the International Chamber of Shipping since 1984 and currently serves as vice chairman.

He is a founder member and former board member of the Hellenic Marine Environment Protection Association and is a member of the Greek committee of the American Bureau of Shipping and of Det Norske Veritas GL Greek national committee.

Chris Bhatt

Managing director, marine, Willis

Chris Bhatt

Managing director, marine, Willis

Chris Bhatt leads the global marine division at Willis. The team works with organisations around the world to help them better understand the risks inherently associated with their business operations. Once identified, they can be quantified and the team can then assist in developing the most appropriate solutions in risk mitigation or transfer.

Mr Bhatt has more than 23 years’ insurance experience encompassing a variety of classes, including employee benefits, corporate pensions and marine insurance. He possesses a wealth of sales and leadership experience and a proven ability for implementing and executing sales strategy, including the delivery of sales, business administration and client retention processes across multiple insurance classes.

An excellent leader and motivator of others, he joined Willis in 2007 and became director of the global marine business in 2010. He is a member of the Global Marine Executive and speaks regularly on marine and related subjects.

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler is The Economist‘s senior Asia correspondent and Banyan columnist. He joined the newspaper in 1986 as a financial reporter. He went on to become Finance Editor, then Washington Correspondent from 1991-94. He was the newspaper’s China Correspondent from 1994-2000, based first in Hong Kong and then Beijing. He went back to London as Finance and Economics Editor in 2001. In 2004 he returned to the United States as an acting Washington Correspondent, and after that stood in for half a year as editor of the Books and Arts section, before serving as Deputy Editor of Intelligent Life, an Economist publication. Mr Ziegler was Tokyo Bureau Chief from 2005-09 and then founding author of The Economist‘s Banyan column on Asian affairs, before returning to London in late 2010 to take up the position of Asia Editor.

Streams (concurrent)

Mike Velings

Founder and managing partner, Aqua-Spark

Mike Velings

Founder and managing partner, Aqua-Spark

Mike Velings is the founder and the driving force behind Aqua-Spark, a global investment fund for sustainable aquaculture, combining a healthy financial profit with environmental and social impact. A lifelong entrepreneur, Mr Velings has spent decades jump-starting a range of successful businesses. Among other ventures, he co-founded Connexie, which has helped catalyse a professional employment industry across the Netherlands. He naturally combines his business background with environmental and social engagement. He understands the potential for business to create durable solutions to complex world problems. With this in mind, Mr Velings founded A-Spark, an investment company that assists entrepreneurs across the globe to realise their visions of a start-up with a world-changing element. Through A-Spark he has invested in a broad range of ventures over the years, in both the developed and the developing world. Mr Velings serves on several boards and is also a member of the chairman’s council of Conservation International and an honorary Global Marine Fellow.

Magdalena Lamprecht Wallhoff,

Director, Regal Springs Tilapia

Magdalena Lamprecht Wallhoff,

Director, Regal Springs Tilapia

Magdalena Lamprecht Wallhoff is global sales director of the Regal Springs Group, the world’s largest vertically integrated Tilapia producer. Regal Springs is recognised as a pioneer in sustainable aquaculture while empowering its fish-farming communities in Honduras, Indonesia and Mexico with economic and social development. She is also responsible for the company’s many social-investment initiatives, which range from building schools, clinics and public-health programmes to domestic-violence prevention. Ms Lamprecht Wallhoff was named Aquaculture Person of the Year in 2014 for her leadership in using aquaculture to responsibly feed the growing global population. She presents internationally about the power of business to create positive, global impact. She has a graduate degree in global public-health management.

Drew Cherry

Editorial director, Intrafish Media

Drew Cherry

Editorial director, Intrafish Media

Drew Cherry is the editorial director of IntraFish Media, where he oversees Intrafish.com, IntraFish.no, Seafood International, Fish Farming International and Fishing News International. Mr Cherry holds a bachelor's degree in English from the University of California at Davis and a master's degree in professional writing from the University of Southern California.

Gorjan Nikolik

Associate director, animal protein, Rabobank International

Gorjan Nikolik

Associate director, animal protein, Rabobank International

Since joining Rabobank International in 2005, Gorjan Nikolik has been an industry analyst focusing on the global seafood sector, including aquaculture, wild-catch, seafood trade and processing. In his primary role, he works as a senior sector expert to Rabobank departments such as mergers and acquisitions, leveraged finance, venture capital, credit risk management and the relationship bankers. He is a regular speaker on global seafood and aquaculture conferences and has published research reports covering the seafood industry. He also has experience as a commodity analyst, having covered the sugar industry. Mr Nikolik holds a master’s degree in finance and business administration from the University of Maastricht and an MBA from the Maastricht School of Management.

Stephen Hall

Director-general, WorldFish

Stephen Hall

Director-general, WorldFish

Stephen Hall is the director-general of WorldFish, an international research institute devoted to reducing hunger and poverty by improving fisheries and aquaculture. He is also one of the instigators of the Fishing for a Future initiative, which is exploring how we might create a Global Action Network to address the various challenges faced by the global fish food system. Recognised as a scientific thought-leader, his recent work focuses on the pivotal role of fisheries and aquaculture in creating a food secure future. His awards and recognitions include a Pew Fellowship in Marine Conservation (2004) and the Australian Public Service Medal for Leadership of the Australian Institute of Marine Science (2005).

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

Gary Lawrence

Vice-president and chief sustainability officer, AECOM

Gary Lawrence

Vice-president and chief sustainability officer, AECOM

Gary Lawrence is vice-president and chief sustainability officer for AECOM Technology Corporation, an $20bn global provider of professional technical and management support services. AECOM’s 100,000 employees—including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists, and management and construction services professionals—serve clients in more than 140 countries around the world.

In his role, Mr Lawrence leads AECOM’s sustainability efforts by managing the company’s extensive resources and skills in sustainability for projects across the enterprise. He is also an AECOM spokesperson and thought leader on sustainability and water, food, energy, security issues.

Prior to joining AECOM, Mr Lawrence served as the urban-strategies leader at Arup. Previously, he led Sustainable Strategies and Solutions Inc. and served on the faculty of the University of Washington’s College of Architecture and Urban Planning. He was also planning director for the City of Seattle, where he led development of one of the world’s first comprehensive plans dedicated to sustainability.

His 20 years of global sustainability experience also include serving as adviser to US President Clinton’s Administration Council on Sustainable Development, the US government at the United Nation's Habitat II, the US Agency for International Development, the Brazilian President's Office, the British Prime Minister's Office, the European Academy for the Urban Environment in Berlin and the Organisation for Economic and Community Development in Paris on matters of sustainable development, economics and environmental policy. His writing and lectures have helped shape sustainability theory, policy and practice throughout the world.

During his career of more than 30 years in public and private policy and management, his leadership skills have contributed to various global initiatives engaging in research and practice to mitigate climate change and adaptation strategies.

Marco Pluijm

Ports and marine sector manager, Bechtel

Marco Pluijm

Ports and marine sector manager, Bechtel

Marco Pluijm is responsible for Bechtel’s ports and marine sector, which includes all segments of that business. He has more than 35 years’ experience in planning, designing and building ports and terminals across the globe. In addition, he is leading research into dynamic controlled mooring and fendering and led a similar highly acclaimed joint-industry research project into new international design guidelines for the passing effect of moored ships in ports. In an earlier phase of his career, he stood at the base of the integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) approach, which was later adopted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He is a renowned expert in the planning, design, construction and operation of offshore ports. Mr Pluijm previously worked for a port authority, a dredging company, an international port consultancy and the Ministry of Transport in the Netherlands. He holds an MSc in civil engineering from Delft University of Technology.

Leo Abruzzese

Global director of public policy, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Leo Abruzzese

Global director of public policy, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Leo Abruzzese is global director of public policy for The Economist Intelligence Unit, overseeing analysis, research and modelling for governments, corporations, NGOs and foundations around the world. Mr Abruzzese also serves as executive editor for the EIU. Based in New York and Washington, he presents the company's outlook on the global economic and policy environment to clients.
Mr Abruzzese has more than 30 years’ experience covering economics, business and public policy. Until March 2015, he served as global forecasting director for The Economist Intelligence Unit. He has also served for the past six years as deputy editor of The Economist magazine’s annual “World in…” forecasting publication.

Mr Abruzzese joined The Economist Intelligence Unit in London in 1998 as editor of ViewsWire, which he built into a briefing service covering 200 countries for half a million business readers. He later assumed responsibility for all of the company’s web-based editorial operations. A year later he was named deputy director of the EIU’s Country Analysis division, where he helped to manage a team of more than 100 analysts. He also served as a macroeconomic analyst in the EIU’s Asia team and was the company’s chief analyst for India, Australia and Indonesia. He moved to New York in 2006 to manage EIU’s US-based editorial and research operations, and also assumed responsibility for the company’s financial services practice.

Between EIU assignments, Mr Abruzzese spent a year as lead editor for coverage of the Federal Reserve and the US Treasury at Bloomberg News LP in Washington. Before joining the EIU in 1998, Mr Abruzzese was Washington bureau chief and editorial director of the Journal of Commerce. He has a BA in liberal arts from Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Kieran O’Brien

Executive director, Carnegie Wave Energy

Kieran O’Brien

Executive director, Carnegie Wave Energy

Kieran O’Brien is a former managing director of ESB (Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board) National Grid and served as a member of the executive management group for more than 15 years. He has been responsible for long-term strategic planning in ESB and for relations with the Irish government and European Union in the fuel and utility sector. Mr O’Brien was acting secretary-general of the World Energy Council (WEC) from 2008 to 2009 and served two three-year terms as a member of the Officer’s Council of the WEC. His international power industry experience extends to Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and North America.

Frank Verschraegen

Project director, THV iLand

Frank Verschraegen

Project director, THV iLand

Frank Verschraegen is project director of the consortium iLand (DEME, Jan De Nul, Electrabel, Flemish and Walloon public financial holdings), set up for the engineering, construction and exploitation of a full-scale energy-storage-island project in the North Sea. As project director of offshore-energy-storage projects at the company DEME, he is dealing with innovative, future-oriented projects and technologies concerning electricity at sea. Mr Verschraegen holds degrees in electromechanical engineering (University of Ghent, Belgium) and in industrial management (University of Louvain, Belgium) and is an experienced leader in development of high-tech businesses and projects in multilingual, international contexts.

Edward Northam

Head of investment banking, UK Green Investment Bank

Edward Northam

Head of investment banking, UK Green Investment Bank

Ed Northam is head of investment banking and is responsible for Green Investment Bank’s investment origination and execution activities. Mr Northam manages the investment banking team and, along with the sector managing directors, is responsible for the training and development of the investment banking team members. He has been involved in the global renewable-energy industry for more than 20 years and during that time has developed and financed more than 80 renewable-energy projects globally. In his early career Mr Northam acted as a legal adviser to public and private organisations engaged in the power sector, before working in industry in various project and corporate development and fundraising roles. Prior to joining Green Investment Bank, he spent ten years as co-founder and chief executive officer of an Australian-based clean-energy investment fund.

James Astill

Political editor and Bagehot columnist, The Economist

James Astill

Political editor and Bagehot columnist, The Economist

James Astill was appointed political editor and Bagehot columnist in 2012. He joined The Economist as international security editor in 2004. He had previously filed dispatches from Afghanistan, Pakistan and many African countries, while also working for the Guardian. In 2007 he moved to Delhi to be the South Asia correspondent, writing on all the countries of the Indian sub-continent. He has won several awards, including the Gerald Ford prize for his coverage of US security and the Grantham prize for a special report on the world's forests. Mr Astill has also written special reports on India, Pakistan and the Arctic. He returned to London in 2011 to take up the role of energy and environment editor before his current appointment.

Kris Van Nijen

General manager, Global Sea Mineral Resources

Kris Van Nijen

General manager, Global Sea Mineral Resources

Kris Van Nijen has been with the Belgian marine solutions provider DEME for 15 years in various roles abroad and at the head office in Belgium. From 2006 to 2010, he was the area manager for Southern Africa, where he first came in contact with offshore diamond mining in Namibia. From 2010 to 2014, based in Singapore, he was responsible for the development of offshore contract mining services in the form of OceanflORE, a 50/50 joint-venture company between DEME and the Dutch technology innovator Royal IHC. He recently moved on from OceanflORE to Global Sea Mineral Resources (100% owned by the DEME group), which in January 2013 signed an exclusive 15-year contract with the International Seabed Authority for the exploration of polymetallic nodules in the Clarion Clipperton Zone.

Ian Wright

Director of science and technology, National Oceanography Centre

Ian Wright

Director of science and technology, National Oceanography Centre

ProfessorIan Wright is the director of the Science and Technology Directorate, which comprises the core research staff of the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in the UK. He leads research working on sub-seafloor and seafloor geological and structural control of fluid flow, with specific application in seafloor hydrothermalism, Arctic methane hydrate release, and potential sub-seabed carbon capture and storage leakage. Mr Wright is working in a number of important NERC and EU science projects, including development of Arctic seafloor observatories, research to understand potential marine ecosystems impacts of CO2 leakage, and development of appropriate monitoring strategies and technology for the nascent carbon capture and storage industry.

He is a member of NERC’s Science and Innovation Strategy Board and RCUK’s Energy Scientific Advisory Committee. Professor Wright has extensive experience in working with industry, particularly in the oil and gas sector and the emerging industries of seafloor mining and sub-seafloor carbon capture and storage. He has extensive experience in working with stakeholders to transfer research into applicable policy, management and operational advances. Professor Wright is also part of the NOC team that is increasing engagement with Dstl, RN and UK defence industries in the use of marine autonomous systems and remote sensing of the marine environment for battlespace characterisation.

Linda Reiners

Director, UK Seabed Resources

Linda Reiners

Director, UK Seabed Resources

Linda Reiners serves as the director of UK Seabed Resources as part of her broader responsibilities as the vice-president of Lockheed Martin Corporate Strategic Ventures; she was appointed in November 2013. She is responsible for identification and development of non-traditional business opportunities across the corporation. In this role she focuses on growing the business with a comprehensive strategy to develop new markets, including seabed minerals.

Ms Reiners holds a BS degree in political science from the University of Idaho and earned an MS as a Sloan Fellow at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Andrew Palmer

Business affairs editor, The Economist

Andrew Palmer

Business affairs editor, The Economist

Andrew Palmer is the business affairs editor at The Economist, where he has responsibility for the newspaper’s business, finance and science coverage. Among other roles he was previously the newspaper’s finance editor and Americas editor. He has authored special reports on international banking, property and financial innovation. Before joining The Economist in 2007 he held a variety of editorial and management positions at The Economist Intelligence Unit. Before joining The Economist Group, he monitored media coverage of elections in Eastern Europe on behalf of the European Union. He has degrees from Oxford University and the London School of Economics.

12:50 PM

Networking lunch

2:20 PM

Panel discussion: Financing the transition to a blue economy

For many industries and individual companies, there is a clear business case for transitioning to a “blue economy” model. Corporate leaders in fishing, retail and tourism cannot ignore it when the natural resources they rely on are depleted or destroyed—it threatens their very existence. Others, such as those in the shipping and chemical industries, know sweeping regulatory change will soon compel them to act. And still others see business opportunities in nascent “blue-economy” industries. Yet all these leaders ask a common question: who will pay for the transition? “Blue bonds” are often touted as the answer, yet they have so far proven more of a philanthropic exercise than a real and scalable solution.
How can existing businesses finance the transition to a new, blue future? How can new industries attract the capital they need to realise their ambitions? What obstacles do banks and financial institutions face in developing “blue-economy” products? How can “blue bonds” be developed into a mainstream financial instrument capable of funding large commercial operations?Panellists
Sean Kidney, chief executive officer, Climate Bonds Initiative
John Tobin-de la Puente, managing director and global head of sustainability, Credit Suisse
Mark Tercek, president and chief executive officer, The Nature Conservancy
Justin Mundy, director, The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability UnitModerator
Andrew Palmer, business affairs editor, The Economist

Sean Kidney

Chief executive officer, Climate Bonds Initiative

Sean Kidney

Chief executive officer, Climate Bonds Initiative

Sean Kidney is the CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, an international non-governmental organisation working to mobilise debt capital markets for climate solutions.

Projects include a green bond definitions and certification scheme with $34trn of assets represented on its board and some 50 organisations involved in its development and governance; developing proposals for the European Commission on Europe’s role in mobilising private-sector capital for climate solutions; and working with the Chinese government’s Development Research Centre on how to grow green bonds in China.

Mr Kidney is a member of the German International Aid Ministry’s TRANSfer Expert Group on Using Climate Financing to Leverage Sustainable Transport, a director of the Network for Sustainable Financial Markets and was a member of the Commonwealth Secretariat’s Expert Committee on Climate Finance. He was previously an award-winning marketing adviser to a number of the largest Australian pension funds and a social marketer and publisher.

John Tobin-de la Puente

Professor of practice in corporate sustainability, Cornell University

John Tobin-de la Puente

Professor of practice in corporate sustainability, Cornell University

John Tobin-de la Puente is professor of practice in corporate sustainability at Cornell University, where he holds a joint appointment between the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management and the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs. Prior to this, Mr Tobin-de la Puente was managing director and global head of sustainability at Credit Suisse, where he had broad responsibility for managing environmental and social issues at the bank. Before working in the area of corporate sustainability, he practised law at Credit Suisse, Clifford Chance, and Davis Polk & Wardwell, focusing on crossborder finance in the emerging markets.

Among other appointments, Mr Tobin-de la Puente is a member of the board of directors of Forest Trends and a member of the Commission on Environment and Energy of the International Chamber of Commerce. He holds a PhD in evolutionary biology from Harvard University and a JD from Harvard Law School, and obtained his BS in biology from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Mark Tercek

President, The Nature Conservancy

Mark Tercek

President, The Nature Conservancy

Mark Tercek is president and CEO of The Nature Conservancy, the world’s largest conservation organisation. He is the co-author of the Washington Post and Publishers Weekly best-selling book Nature’s Fortune: How Business and Society Thrive by Investing in Nature.

Before joining The Nature Conservancy in 2008, Mr Tercek was a partner and managing director of Goldman Sachs, where he worked for 24 years. Starting in 2005, he led the firm’s environmental strategy and its Environmental Markets Group. Inspired by the opportunity to help businesses, governments and environmental organisations work together in new, innovative ways, he left Goldman Sachs in 2008 to head up The Nature Conservancy.

He is a champion of the idea of natural capital—valuing nature for its own sake as well as for the services it provides for people, such as clean air and water, productive soils and a stable climate.

Justin Mundy

Director, The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit

Justin Mundy

Director, The Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit

Justin Mundy is the director of the Prince of Wales’s International Sustainability Unit (ISU), which acts as a high-level broker to facilitate consensus on environmental and developmental issues.

Before the ISU he worked as an adviser to the UK government on Russia, energy and climate change. Previously, he ran the World Bank’s forestry and biodiversity programmes in Russia and Central Asia.

He was also a managing director of Climate Change Capital, senior adviser to Deutsche Bank’s Global Markets Group, a director of Aon Carbon and a founder of ForestRe.

3:10 PM

On the sofa: What if? Ocean 2050

We ask thought leaders to share their visions of what a blue economy will look like in 2050. What will the success stories be? How does the blue economy fit within the stories of emerging markets and the developed-world recovery? What challenges lie beyond the horizon? And what do our visions of the future mean for businesses investing in ocean-facing industries now?Panellists
Jon Hindar, chief executive officer, Cermaq
Pavan Sukhdev, goodwill ambassador, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); chairman of the advisory board, Gulbenkian Oceans Initiative
Cecilia Reyes, chief investment officer and regional chairman of Asia-Pacific, Zurich Insurance GroupModerator
Dominic Ziegler, Asia editor, The Economist

Jon Hindar

Chief executive officer, Cermaq

Jon Hindar

Chief executive officer, Cermaq

Jon Hindar is CEO of Cermaq Group, a world leader in sustainable aquaculture with farming of salmonids in Chile, Canada and Norway. Mr Hindar has broad international industry experience as CEO of NorSun, senior vice-president of Invitrogen Corp, CEO of Dynal Biotech, and partner and managing director of Fondsfinans. He holds several board positions in industry as well as in non-governmental organisations. He holds a master of science in chemical engineering from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology and has management education from IMD, Lausanne.

Pavan Sukhdev

Pavan Sukhdev was the study leader for the ground-breaking TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) study commissioned by G8+5 and hosted by UNEP. He has chaired the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Ecosystems and Biodiversity (2009–11) and was a speaker at Davos in 2010 and 2011. He currently serves on the boards of Conservation International, Global Reporting Initiative, TEEB Advisory Board, Gulbenkian Oceans Initiative and the Stockholm Resilience Centre. He is the founder and CEO of GIST Advisory, a specialist consulting firm that helps governments and corporations discover, measure, value and manage their impacts on natural and human capital. In recognition of his continuing work in helping governments and corporations transition towards a green economy, UNEP appointed Mr Sukhdev as the UNEP Goodwill Ambassador in the year 2012.
Mr Sukhdev received “Gothenburg Award for Sustainable Development” in 2013 for his work on mainstreaming nature’s economically invisible services and their considerable value for our economies and societies. He also received the environmental award from KfW-Bernhard-Grzimek-Preis for his contribution to TEEB and evaluating natural capital in 2015.

Cecilia Reyes

Cecilia Reyes

Cecilia Reyes assumed her current role as CIO at Zurich Insurance Group in April 2010, and as regional chairman of Asia-Pacific in April 2015. Ms Reyes joined Zurich in 2001 as regional manager for group investments with responsibility for North America, and she became regional manager for Europe and international businesses in 2004. From April 2006 until March 2010, she was head of investment-strategy implementation.

Ms Reyes has over 20 years’ experience in the international financial markets. She worked from 1990 to 1995 for Credit Suisse in Zurich in various roles in asset management, global treasury and securities trading. In 1995, she started working with ING Barings in London, and in 1997 she became a director and head of trading risk analytics. She moved to Amsterdam in 2000 as head of risk analytics for ING Asset Management to develop risk-management methods for the asset-management operation.

Ms Reyes has been a member of the advisory board of the Department of Banking and Finance at the University of Zurich since 2011. She holds a PhD in finance from London Business School and an MBA from the University of Hawaii, US.

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler

Senior Asia correspondent and "Banyan" columnist, The Economist

Dominic Ziegler is The Economist‘s senior Asia correspondent and Banyan columnist. He joined the newspaper in 1986 as a financial reporter. He went on to become Finance Editor, then Washington Correspondent from 1991-94. He was the newspaper’s China Correspondent from 1994-2000, based first in Hong Kong and then Beijing. He went back to London as Finance and Economics Editor in 2001. In 2004 he returned to the United States as an acting Washington Correspondent, and after that stood in for half a year as editor of the Books and Arts section, before serving as Deputy Editor of Intelligent Life, an Economist publication. Mr Ziegler was Tokyo Bureau Chief from 2005-09 and then founding author of The Economist‘s Banyan column on Asian affairs, before returning to London in late 2010 to take up the position of Asia Editor.

3:50 PM

Networking break

4:20 PM

Spotlight interview: China's vision for the blue economy

China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) will outline its vision for growth and development in the ocean.Zhang Zhanhai, director-general, Department of Strategic Planning and Economy, State Oceanic Administration, People’s Republic of ChinaModerator
Charles Goddard, editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit; editorial director, World Ocean Summit

Zhang Zhanhai

As the director-general of the Department of Strategic Planning and Economic Development in the State Oceanic Administration (SOA), Zhanhai Zhang oversees research on national oceanic development strategy, compilation of state oceanic development planning, monitoring and evaluation of national marine economic operations, and policy proposals for national marine economic restructuring and industrial distribution.

He was the director-general of the Department of International Co-operation in the SOA and the chief scientist of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic scientific expedition in 2003 and 2004, as well as the president of the Sub-commission for the Western Pacific of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, UNESCO.

He graduated with a degree in mathematics from Peking University in 1984 and earned a PhD in oceanography from the University of Helsinki. He was named a Special Allowance Expert of the State Council and was involved in the first batch of the national New Century Talents Project.

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard

Editorial director, Asia-Pacific, The Economist Intelligence Unit

Charles Goddard leads the Economist Intelligence Unit’s editorial services in Asia-Pacific, including Corporate Network, a peer group for senior decision-makers of global businesses operating in the region. A journalist by background, he has worked across a range of publications and services at the Economist Intelligence Unit, including as author of the China Market Atlas series and director of its research divisions. A frequent traveller and speaker, he interacts regularly with business and government leaders across Asia. He is also executive director of The Economist’s World Ocean Summit, a global series of events on the sustainable use of our seas.

4:50 PM

In conversation with the United Nations

We hear from the United Nations on the World Ocean Assessment, its Sustainable Development Goals and its view of the blue economy.Miguel de Serpa Soares, under-secretary-general for legal affairs and UN legal counsel, United NationsModerator
Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief, The Economist

Miguel de Serpa Soares

Under-secretary-general for legal affairs and UN legal counsel, United Nations

Miguel de Serpa Soares

Under-secretary-general for legal affairs and UN legal counsel, United Nations

Miguel de Serpa Soares was appointed the under-secretary-general for legal affairs and United Nations legal counsel in September 2013. He oversees the Office of Legal Affairs, the overall objectives of which are to provide a unified central legal service for the United Nations. The Office of Legal Affairs employs approximately 200 staff of more than 60 nationalities.

Mr Serpa Soares has extensive experience in legal and international affairs, having represented his country in various bilateral and multilateral international forums, including the Sixth Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, the Committee of Public International Law Advisers of the Council of Europe and the International Criminal Court’s Assembly of State Parties.

Before taking up his current position, Mr Serpa Soares was director-general of the Department of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal. Earlier in his career, he acted as legal adviser to the permanent representation of Portugal to the European Union, Brussels (1999–2008).

Mr Serpa Soares holds a degree (licenciatura) in law from the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon (1990), where he also served as assistant lecturer from 1989 to 1993, and a diplôme des hautes études juridiques européennes, College of Europe, Bruges (1992).

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes is the editor-in-chief of The Economist. Previously she was the business affairs editor, responsible for the newspaper’s coverage of business, finance and science. Prior to her current appointment she led the paper’s global economic coverage as economics editor, co-ordinating a team of writers around the world. Until November 2007, Ms Minton Beddoes was US economics editor, focused on the American economy and its global impact, and earlier she served as The Economist’s emerging-markets correspondent based in London.

5:20 PM

Keynote remarks

Pedro Passos Coelho, prime minister, Portugal

Pedro Passos Coelho

Prime minister, Portugal

Pedro Passos Coelho

Prime minister, Portugal

Pedro Passos Coelho took office as prime minister of Portugal's 19th constitutional government on June 21st 2011 following parliamentary elections on June 5th the same year. In 2010 he was elected leader of the Social Democratic Party. In 2008 he founded the Strategic Reflection Platform (Construir ideias) for analysis and discussion of the main topics on the national political agenda.

For the past decade Mr Passos Coelho has held senior management positions in several companies in the energy and environment fields, in conjunction with lecturing and serving as chairman of the Vila Real Municipal Assembly. He served as a councillor on Amadora City Council between 1997 and 2001, when he founded the Movimento Pensar Portugal (Think Portugal Movement). In 1991 he held the positions of deputy leader and spokesman for the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in the Assembly of the Republic, the Portuguese parliament.

He became involved in politics at an early age, and for five years was a member of the National Council of Social Democratic Youth. He holds a degree in economics from the Lusíada University, Lisbon.

5:35 PM

Closing remarks

Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Editor-in-chief, The Economist

Zanny Minton Beddoes is the editor-in-chief of The Economist. Previously she was the business affairs editor, responsible for the newspaper’s coverage of business, finance and science. Prior to her current appointment she led the paper’s global economic coverage as economics editor, co-ordinating a team of writers around the world. Until November 2007, Ms Minton Beddoes was US economics editor, focused on the American economy and its global impact, and earlier she served as The Economist’s emerging-markets correspondent based in London.

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WWF

WWF is the world’s largest independent conservation organization, with a global network active in over 100 countries. As part of our mission to build a future in which people and nature thrive, we are working for a well-managed ocean that is resilient, full of life and able to provide valuable goods and services for sustainable development.

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Enquiry

If you would like to submit a speaker for suggestion please send a concise, 100 word pitch, one or two videos of the proposed speaker, a biography and any relevant articles to oceanspeakers@economist.com. Please note that we receive a large volume of requests for speaking, and will consider each based on suitability for our programme. We may not be able to make a final decision on your speaking role until closer to the event, but will keep your request on file for consideration.

Ocean Innovation Challenge

Governments and businesses across the world are increasingly looking to the oceans as a key source of economic growth, job creation and investment. But the hazards of this increased economic activities pose very real threats to the oceans.

Amidst this conflict, the vision of a ‘blue economy’ emerges, offering a scenario in which economic activity is balanced by responsible investment into the ocean. Yet there is a clear disconnect between reality and this ideal. Traditional businesses dependent on the ocean face squeezed margins at the prospect of funding their transition from conventional business models to blue, sustainable practices. How can profit-seeking entities be incentivized to transform into blue-friendly businesses?

The Ocean Innovation Challenge 2015 called for pioneering minds to offer solutions which actively alleviate this tension between growth and sustainability. We invited scalable, economically viable and environmentally sustainable innovations that strive to create or enhance business practices, industries or technologies that contribute to the long-term health of our ocean.

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